Of course that would be our goal. It's a race to four. We feel we're in a good position. We also understand Chicago is a great team. -- Daniel Cleary

CHICAGO – The Detroit Red Wings have three chances to close out
the Chicago Blackhawks in order to move on to the Western Conference Finals.

But the ideal scenario for the Red Wings is to end the series as
soon as possible since they've got the Blackhawks on the ropes after handing Chicago three straight losses for the first time this
season to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

They don't want to let the Blackhawks build any momentum after taking control of the series so the Red Wings would like nothing more than to send Chicago packing
Saturday in Game 5 at the United Center.

"Of course that would be our goal," said veteran forward Daniel
Cleary. "It's a race to four. We feel we're in a good position. We also
understand Chicago is a great team. They're loaded with champions, with
winners, guys who know what it takes.

"Their leadership group I'm sure is talking. 'We've won three
games in a row all season.' That's what they're trying to do. That's what they
got to do."

If the Blackhawks win Game 5, they would send the series back to
Detroit for Game 6 Monday night at Joe Louis Arena, where the Red Wings have
won four straight games dating back to their seven-game series with Anaheim in
the opening round.

Game 7, if necessary, would be Wednesday at the United Center,
where the Blackhawks have a 22-4-3 record this season. That includes their Game
2 loss to the Red Wings.

But the Red Wings know they would be taking a huge chance by
letting the series go the distance.

"Of course we want to win the next game," said captain Henrik
Zetterberg. "We know the fourth win is always the toughest one. We need to come
out, play good from the start and sort it out."

Scoring the first goal is important because it's been a good sign
for the Red Wings in the playoffs.

In their seven playoff victories against Anaheim and Chicago, they've
scored first in five of them including the last two against the Blackhawks.

"The
start is important every night," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "I didn't
think we were very good (in Game 4). We gave up 14 shots and were very loose
last night in the first period, turned the puck over and weren't sharp. We got
better as the game went on,

"We
got eight (shots) in the second and six in the third, so we need to start on
time tomorrow, for sure. I think when you're on the road that first 10 minutes
is always important."

A quick start could take the crowd out of the game but if the Red
Wings fall behind early, they know the Blackhawks could feed off the energy of
their rowdy crowd.

"They're going to come out with
everything they have and we have to match that," said defenseman Niklas
Kronwall. "Take care of the puck and make sure we get the pucks deep and
hopefully spend some time in their zone instead of the other way around."

After turning aside 86 of 88 shots in the past three games and
allowing Chicago a combined two goals, goaltender Jimmy Howard is looking forward
to the challenge of trying to end the series on the Blackhawks' home ice.

"I think it's a lot of fun to play
here," Howard said. "It's a blast from the national anthem to hearing how the
fans are constantly into the game. The atmosphere here at the United Center
makes for a great game.

"(Winning Game 5 is) important, but
it's also the most difficult, knocking a team out of the playoffs. You're
expecting them to come out and play extremely hard, extremely urgent tomorrow
night, and we're going to have to be extremely focused at the same time.

"Our mindset can't change. We have to
go out there and match the intensity tomorrow night."